Ellie's Story

14-month-old Ellie enjoys dollies, bubbles, music therapy and ‘Sing and Sign’. Mum Sarah describes her as a “very sassy, feisty, social little girl. She is always waving, clapping, and blowing kisses. She knows what she likes and just loves watching the world go by on the ward.” Ellie was born prematurely at just twenty-three weeks. She was initially admitted to the high dependency unit at a hospital near their home but was then transferred fifty miles away to the Evelina hospital in London for a tracheostomy. Mum Sarah explains, “For what we thought was a simple procedure, things didn’t go quite as planned. We got transferred to the high dependency unit and have been here since. We were only meant to be there for three weeks.”

Meeting Roald Dahl Nurse Molly

Roald Dahl Nurse Molly has been on hand to support the family since the beginning of their admission in May. Sarah explains “I've seen Molly every day apart from her days off. She is my one consistent person on this journey and my sunshine in human form, she’s just amazing.”  “She has done literally everything for me. On days where I didn't have the strength to use my own voice to advocate for things, she was my voice. She has helped with things at home, writing letters for landlords to make sure we've got the right plug sockets for Ellie's room; she has helped us get food vouchers so we can eat while we're up here. It has literally been any little thing.” 

Sarah explains how Molly supports the family in a coordinated and consistent way, “She can see the whole picture. Sometimes you do just need someone that knows a little bit of everything to say actually; that’s not quite right, let's do something about it, or equally on the days when Ellie's doing really well, she knows how to advocate for her when she can do more.”     “I think it would be impossible to do it without Molly, because on the days where you  don't  feel like you can cope or do it, she's there. But she's also someone that you can celebrate the good times with.   “Molly ultimately brings us together as a family. She doesn't just support Ellie, she supports each parent as an individual, she's so good at tailoring what everyone needs individually.”  “You only understand the importance of having a Roald Dahl Nurse, when you have been through it yourself and lived it. You don’t know how grateful we are because like I said, we just never could have done this journey without Molly our Roald Dahl Nurse, and we want to say a million thank yous.”